New Portree RNLI lifeboat arrives in Skye

A new £2.78m lifeboat has arrived at an RNLI station in Skye.

The Shannon class craft - named Peter and Mary - is the first new permanent lifeboat for Portree RNLI in 30 years.

The modern lifeboat, which is powered by water jets rather than conventional propellors, will replace a long serving Trent class vessel.

A large crowd of spectators gathered to welcome it to the town on Saturday afternoon.

It was guided into Portree by the outgoing Portree RNLI lifeboat, Stanley Watson Barker, and the HM Coastguard emergency towing vessel Ievoli Black, which fired its water canons in a traditional seafaring salute.

The Shannon class is the smallest and lightest form of all weather lifeboat, and is designed and built entirely in-house by the RNLI in Poole in Dorset.

It has a top speed of 25 knots and its water jet propulsion system gives it an increased level of manoeuvrability.

Stuart Nicolson, coxswain at Portree RNLI, said the volunteer crew had put in many hours of intensive training ahead of the arrival of the new boat.

He said they had already commented on her "excellent sea-going qualities, manoeuvrability and efficiency".

"This is the start of a new chapter for the RNLI in Portree and we are looking forward to continuing to serve our island and neighbouring communities for many years to come," he said.